FARMERS are this year looking at disc seeding arrangements in increasing numbers in order to manage the burden of heavy stubble loads.
With this in mind, Syngenta’s release of a new selective grass weed herbicide, Arcade, will be welcomed by the production sector.
The product, which is being billed as an alternative to Syngenta’s popular Boxer Gold, is a Group J product and is registered for control of ryegrass in wheat and barley crops.
Rachel Carson, portfolio manager at Syngenta, said while the new herbicide was not a blockbuster release it would have a fit for many growers.
“Control rates are not as good as for Boxer Gold, but we do see it having a really good fit for farmers on lighter soils, using disc seeders or growing crops such as durum wheat.
“Trial work has shown it has got some good strengths in these areas, it makes a good alternative to Boxer Gold in these scenarios.”
“There is less toxicity to crops grown on lighter soils than Boxer Gold, where you can occasionally see the crop stressed by the herbicide.
“Durum wheat is particularly sensitive to Boxer Gold, so this could be a good alternative for durum producers.”
Ms Carson said Arcade, which contains 800 grams a litre of prosulfocarb, would also help in controlling ryegrass populations resistant to popular herbicides such as trifluralin.
She said the herbicide was registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) last year and this year was the product’s commercial release.
She said it worked out at around $35.70 a hectare to apply, cheaper than Boxer Gold, but without Boxer Gold’s co-formulation which helps with efficacy.
Gregor Heard
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
